Grapevine: Freedom to bark?

Wasting tax payer money and disregarding nepotism rules would put any employee in hot water. The water really starts to boil if the allegations are leveled at the watchdog for the Department of Homeland Security.

The New York Post reports, Charles Edwards, the top Inspector General at DHS is currently under investigation for abuses like multiple taxpayer funded trips and employing his wife who was then allowed to telework from India for at least five months.

Senators Ron Johnson and Claire McCaskill say thye are on the case after hearing from whistle-blowers that government employees were also used to help with the IG's homework in pursuit of his PHD.

Edwards says the allegations are without merit and he has denied any wrongdoing.

Radio silence

The U.S. Marshal's service has misplaced some radios. The problem?

The missing encrypted devices are worth millions of dollars and would present a significant security risk if obtained by criminals.

The Marshal service is charged with protecting federal courthouses and operating the Witness Protection program.

The service has acknowledged the problem, blaming poor record keeping and claiming when many of the radios were declared obsolete and taken out of the field they were not property documented.

A spokesman emphasizes they are not aware of any public safety issues as a result of the lost radios at this time.

Barking Gator

And finally, apparently the freedom to bark is not protected under the First Amendment.

Antonio Morrison, a University of Florida football player -– a Gator -- was arrested over the weekend for barking at a police dog.

His defense? The dog barked first.

In Florida, you see, it is illegal to tease or interfere with a police dog.

The player was also charged with resisting arrest following the barking incident.